Early cold snap freezes Pagosa Country

“Brrr,” was likely one of the most common phrases heard throughout Pagosa Country over the last several days.

Hot beverages, coats and warm fires were certainly welcome during the last week, with temperatures in Pagosa Country dropping below zero — and, in places, at least 20 degrees below the average minimum temperature for December.

The cold snap followed several days of snowy weather that left several inches on the ground in town, and at least 44 inches at Wolf Creek Ski Area.

Temperatures recorded at Stevens Field airport, which are printed on page A2 of The SUN each week, show a low of 16 below zero reached Monday, Dec. 9, though lower temps were reported throughout the area.

The average minimum temperature for December in Pagosa Springs is 5 degrees, according to information from the Western Regional Climate Center. That average is drawn from a period from 1906 to 1998. The December average from 1981 to 2010 is 5.6 degrees.

Temperatures began the week at average levels, with the recorded high on Dec. 4 at 38 degrees, versus the area’s long-term average max temperature at 39.6 degrees for Pagosa Springs. The low that night hovered near the average, as well, at 7 degrees.

As the storm moved into the area, recorded highs dropped into the low 20s, with overnight lows hovering at 1 and 2 degrees from Dec. 5 to Dec. 7.